200th goal well worth the wait for record scorer Macadie
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Richard Macadie has revealed that he was sure his 200th competitive goal for Wick Academy would come in Saturday’s game at home to Fort William.
And so it proved, as the club’s record scorer struck twice – in the third and 78th minutes – to help his team to a 4-1 Highland League victory and complete his personal double century.
It came in his 550th competitive appearance for the club.
Macadie (32) had his testimonial last season and had his sights set on reaching the 200-goal mark during the current campaign. His double against Fort followed the disappointment of having a penalty saved in the defeat at Buckie the previous weekend.
“I’ve been waiting for it for so long,” the attacking midfielder said. “It has been talked about every time I’ve been playing and missed a chance, and last week was a nightmare after missing that penalty.
“I said all week that I would get it today. I got two chances and I took them.
“And it’s better to get it at home as well. My 100th goal was away [in December 2012] when we beat Buckie 7-0 and I scored five. I’ll never forget that game.”
We want to go unbeaten for the rest of the season if we can.
It was fitting that goal number 200 was set up by Davie Allan, who is close to a scoring landmark of his own as his opener against Fort took him to 149 competitive goals for Academy.
Macadie said: “If you take a touch you can miss the chance, especially on that pitch, so as it came in I made my mind up I was hitting it.
“I was happy that Davie provided the assist, as he has assisted so many over the years for me. He’s getting back to his best.”
Academy’s other strike on Saturday was a penalty by Gary Manson – his 50th goal for the club.
“It was good for Gaz too,” Macadie said. “He always said he was close to getting it [his 50th goal] and it’s good that he got it on the same day.”
Macadie said the aim now is to try and remain unbeaten for the remainder of the season and start climbing the table. He is also keen to see fans coming along to Harmsworth Park in greater numbers to cheer on the team.
“It has been a pretty poor start to the season. We’ve had a lot of away games and that has been a factor,” he said.
“We want to go unbeaten for the rest of the season if we can – that’s the first target.
“And to be honest we want to get the crowds back too, because they’ve been down a bit and you notice it. It makes a difference when you’re playing.”
Macadie made his competitive debut for Wick in August 2003 and became a first-team regular a couple of seasons later, after returning to Ross County. A high point of his time with the Scorries was the 6-2 victory over Nairn County in the North of Scotland Cup final of 2015 – the club’s first piece of silverware since joining the Highland League.
His highest goal tally in a season was 28 in 2010/11. Macadie’s five-goal haul at Buckie in 2012 was the first time an Academy player had scored that many in a single Highland League match.
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